Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Chulalongkorn (Part 4): On the Brink

For
almost two decade, King Chulalongkorn continued to modernize the Kingdom of
Siam. His father, King Mongkut, began the process. However, they were aware
that modernization needed to be slow. And so, when King Mongkut passed away in
1868, the process was passed on to King Chulalongkorn. King Chula did continued
the program and succeeded in making in various fields, from the military,
administration, to education, and even health services. All of this efforts
made in order to protect his kingdoms independence and to equal the state of
the western powers.

During
the 1880’s to 1890’s, the West had been active in establishing colonies, protectors,
and spheres of influence in Asia. The British had been advancing in the Malayan
Peninsula and Myanmar. The French advanced its interests in Vietnam and
Cambodia. And most of all, all western powers had been dividing China among
themselves. Southeast Asia, in particular, was almost devoured by the western
powers. Only few Kingdom, including Siam, made efforts to remain independent.

Nevertheless,
Chula knew that anytime threats towards Siamese independence were always
present. In the 1890’s, France wanted to push their agenda westward from their
colonies in Vietnam to the lands of modern day Laos and to the east bank of the
Mekong River. The areas, however, were part of the sphere of influence of Siam
and King Chula. A clash seem imminent, and France was determined to see their
plans realized. They sent an official, named August Pavie, to execute the
expansion of French borders to Laos. French troops then poured in to the area
in order to lay claim on it. The Siamese also mobilized its troops to the area
to defend their interests. Eventually, a skirmish flared up and took the life
of a French officer. The killing of the officer then led to the events known as
the Paknam Incident.

Direct
confrontation between the French and the Siamese culminated in the event known
as the Paknam Incident. Tension rose between the two countries. Pavie decided
to retaliate after the killing of the French officer. In July 1893, two gunboats
from French Indochina were dispatched to the mouth of the Chao Phraya River and
to the district known as Paknam. In Bangkok, government officials debated on
how they would react to the threats just near to their capital. Officials and
princes exchanged arguments whether to negotiate or to open fire against the
French gun boats. Chula’s minister of foreign affairs advised him that any
confrontation with France, Britain would support the Siamese. Chula then
decided to open fire against the French gunboats. In July 13, 1893, the forts
in the Paknam District used their newly acquired artilleries and open fired
against the two French warships. The French did not hesitated to fire back. For
minutes cannons sounded and carnage were made. In the end, both side suffered
casualties. A ceasefire then followed. Then, the French minister in Bangkok,
who was also Auguste Pavie, sent an ultimatum to King Chula. The ultimatum
included Siam’s abandonment of its claims to Laos and payment of damages. The
Siamese government was given few days to give an answer. Chula had to check his
cards. For the following days, Bangkok received messages from the British that
they would stay neutral in an event of a war. Chula then also thought that his
army was not strong, experienced, and capable enough to defend Siam from any
western invasion. Hence, Chula had no choice but to accept the French
ultimatum. As a result of the Paknam Incident, Siam relinquished its claims to
the lands east of the Mekong River. In addition, they had to pay 2 million
Francs in indemnity to France. Nevertheless, Chula was still lucky that Siam
still held control of the core lands or the lands traditionally occupies by the
Siamese. The Paknam Incident also cemented the mind of Chula that Siam was not
yet safe from western aggression and more were needed to be done in order to
secure its independence.

Years
after the incident, Chula thought that in order to secure recognition of Siam
as a member of the international community, a charm offensive was needed. Gifts
and missions were not enough to smitten the west. He decided that he himself
would go in order to meet his fellow leaders and secure his recognition as an
established world leader and Siam as part of the international community. Chula
went to a world tour twice. One was in 1897 and another a decade later in 1907.
His tours led him to Russia where he met Tsar Nicholas II and secured Russian
recognition of Siam. He also visited Germany and had an audience with Kaiser
Wilhelm II and received as well German recognition of Siam. Then, he also made
a visit to the capital of the largest empire in the world – London. There, he
attended the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria. The British courteously treated
the King and even invited him to stay at the Buckingham Palace. He also paid
visits to Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium. During his stay in
Belgium, he was invited by French President Felix Faure to visit Paris. Chula
accepted the invitation and proceeded to Paris. He was welcomed by the cheers
of the French people. He made humble and charitable deeds in Paris by giving
alms to the poor Parisians. Nevertheless, the French never returned Laos to
Siam. But, the trip achieved its purpose. At every visit of Chula, the European
heads of states respected and treated Chula as an equal. They truly did began
to see Siam and Chula as part of the world community and gave their
recognition. Then after, no western country attempted to colonize of take Siam.
Chula succeeded in maintaining his Kingdom’s independence for the next century
and onwards.